March 31 1999

Jess was awaken by a ringing phone. She rolls over and looks at the caller ID.

Jess - "Happy Birthday to you too Stevie."

Stephen - "hey little sister it was time to wake up."

Jess - "hey I have the day off, I was sleeping in."

Stephen - "Well its time to wake up."

Jess - "okay fine." She sits up and stretches. "What are you doing today?"

Stephen - "Don't know. Reece has something planned. What about you?"

Jess - "I'm not sure. It looks like it might actually be a half way decent day out. I'll probably head over to mom and dad's. Get some lunch go shopping. Just have a nice me day."

Stephen - "What that guy you're seeing isn't doing anything for your birthday."

Jess - "I might see him later but we didn't make any plans."

Stephen - "he does know it's your birthday right."

Jess - "Yeah but we've only known each other like two weeks I asked him to not make a big deal out of it.

Stephen - "Okay what ever." Her call waiting beeps.

Jess - "oh god what is it with people calling at," She looks at the clock. "Ten twenty in the morning. I'll call you back."

Stephen - "okay love ya lil' sis."

Jess - "Love you too big brother." She clicks over. "Hello."

Nick - "hey birthday girl."

Jess - "Morning."

Nick - "did I wake you?"

Jess - "Nope Stevie beat you to it. So what's up with you this lovely morning?"

Nick - "We just took a break from recording so I thought I would give you a happy birthday call."

Jess - "Why thank you. How are things going?"

Nick - "Good. We're wrapping up some of the harmonies on the last song and then this afternoon we have to go to a shoot for the album."

Jess - "Sounds like fun."

Nick - "I miss you."

Jess - "I miss you too."

Nick - "Can you come visit?"

Jess - "I can't. I'm so busy with work."

Nick - "I know me too. It's just Loren and Tristen were coming down for the week end to see Kevin and I was hoping that maybe you could too."

Jess - "Well she's coming down because they are seeing each other. I can't just drop everything to come see you all the time."

Nick - "I know." Jess can hear the pout in his voice and picture him kicking his feet.

Jess - "Stop pouting you're going to be up here in May and that's like only a little over a month away. I'll see you then."

Nick - "Alright. So what are you doing for your birthday?"

Jess - "Not much I've got off. So I was just going to sleep in and enjoy a day doing what ever I want."

Nick - "Okay well I guess I should let you go. Oh wait here comes Kevin."

Kevin - "Hey there girlie."

Jess - "Hey dude."

Kevin - "so it's your birthday huh. How old are you now? 15?"

Jess - "Oh you think you're funny huh. Well if I'm 15 that means Loren's barley 18. And that makes you a cradle robber buddy, this close to statutory." He laughs.

Kevin - "Touchy about our age aren't we."

Jess - "I'm not ashamed of being 24."

Kevin - "I know I just wanted to wish you happy birthday kiddo."

Jess - "Well thank you. So what's this I hear about you taking my favorite aunt and cousin away for the weekend?"

Kevin - "I just thought it would be nice I haven't seen them in a few weeks."

Jess - "Try ten days. I know about your little overnight visit."

Kevin - "Oh you do, do you."

Jess - "Yeap Loren tells me everything. Three times in one night, I'm impressed."

Kevin - "She told you that!"

Jess - "No I'm just kidding. Why am I right?"

Kevin - "Not necessarily. If I remember correctly"

Jess - "Okay stop too much information." He laughs. "I used to share an apartment with her remember."

Kevin - "Well you'll have to come over and spend the night one time so you can compare the noises so I know if I'm doing it right."

Jess - "If you don't know how to do it right by now, me comparing noises isn't going to help."

Kevin - "True. So what's this I hear about a new man?"

Jess - "What did she tell you?"

Kevin - "Only that you are seeing some one but she can't tell me who."

Jess - "Good."

Kevin - "So who is it?"

Jess - "I'm not telling you."

Kevin - "Come on I can keep a secret."

Jess - "No you can't."

Kevin - "Come on try me."

Jess - "It's not that I don't want to tell you it's just that. It's still new and I don't want everyone to make a big deal over it."

Kevin - "Is he nice?"

Jess - "Yeah he's very nice. He sends me flowers at work."

Kevin - "Does Brad know who he is?"

Jess - "Yeah and I told him I'd fired him if he told you so don't bother calling him."

Kevin - "Brat."

Jess - "Just covering myself. So I'm going to get out of bed now and get a shower and then go bug my parents."

Kevin - "Okay well you have a nice birthday."

Jess - "I will."

She lies back down and snuggles up to Lance.

Lance - "Who is calling so early?"

Jess - "Just some friends." He wraps his arms around her and kisses her forehead.

Lance - "I should really probably get back to the hotel."

Jess - "Shh. Talking bad, sleeping good." He sighs and rubs her back. "Alright you win if you say you have to go and leave me so soon on my birthday then I guess that's okay." Jess sits up.

Lance - "Oh now you're not playing fair."

Jess - "Well of course not I'm a woman." She leans back down to kiss him. "I guess we should get up."

Lance - "Okay." He pulls her arm out from underneath her making her fall back on the bed. "In a couple minutes." He pulls her close and snuggles in to her hair.

Jess - "Ouch. You're pulling my hair."

Lance - "Sorry. There's just so much of it."

Jess - "I know I might go get a hair cut today."

Lance - "Not too much."

Jess - "Oh no. You're not going to be one of those boyfriends who try to tell what to wear are you?"

Lance - "Am I you're boyfriend now?"

Jess - "Well." She rolls over to face him. "Considering the fact that you've spent the night three times in two weeks. I would say you're getting close."

Lance - "Close enough to go with to your parents."

Jess - "My parents." She giggles nervously. "You might never be that close."

Lance - "They can't be that bad."

Jess - "My mom's not. She's pretty cool but my dad well he's another story entirely. Come on let's go get some breakfast."

Lance - "Okay. Go ahead get a shower I've got to call and see what my schedule's like for the day."

Jess gets a shower while Lance calls and gets his itinerary for the day. They have to do some charity thing in the early after noon and then go to TRL to premier their new video for Drive myself Crazy. While he is in the shower Jess runs and gets some McDonald's because well you know she is the queen of fast food.

Jess - "Hey I got you a sausage biscuit with cheese."

Lance - "Thanks. You know I thought the whole point of staying at my girlfriend's house was to get home cooking."

Jess - "well then you must like hospital food. Cause if I cooked for you. Your next meal would be there."

Lance - "It can't be that bad."

Jess - "I wouldn't know I haven't cooked in," she thinks for a minute. "Over a month. And I had to throw the pan away."

Lance - "I'm not a fussy eater."

Jess - "yeah but I'm sure you wouldn't at least like your food edible." He nods. "So where are you taking me tonight?"

Lance - "I don't know. I said something to Chris about it being your birthday and well he planned something."

Jess - "Well that sounds like fun."

Lance - "I think he wants to make up for last time. I promise no explosions."

Jess - "Okay. What time?"

Lance - "I'll pick you up here at eight thirty."

Jess - "Alright. What should I wear?"

Lance - "something sexy."

Jess - "you mean this isn't sexy." She's wearing jeans and a big sweatshirt.

Lance - "You know what I mean. I got to run."

Jess - "Alright." He leans down and kisses her. "I'll see you later."

Lance - "okay bye." He leaves and she cleans up the apartment a little before calling Loren to go shopping.

Chapter Thirty-Seven